pratt



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

L. M. PRATT.

ORNAMENTAL FRAME.

Ptented Sept. 6, 1887.

[Ill slllll lllll UNITED STATES PATENT rricn.

LEWIS M. PRATT, OF BELLEVILLE, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE H ALF TO XVILLIAM H. THOMPSON, OF SAME PLACE.

ORNAMENTAL FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369.410, dated September 6, 1887.

Application filed June 1, 1887. Serial No. 239,974. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, LEWIS M. PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Belleville, in the county of Republic and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ornamental Frames, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the construction of ornamental frames, interior and exterior portions of a building, and other analogous purposes; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the same,which will be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide an ornamental interlocking composite frame for mounting pictures, ornamenting cabinets, mirrors, or other articles of furniture, and for the decoration of the interior and exterior portions of rooms, such as doors, windows, alcoves, cornices, or any place where an ornament of like character may be applied. I attain this object by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likeletters of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and in whicli Figure'l is a front elevation of my improved form of ornamentation arranged as a pictureframe. Fig. 2 is a similar View of a variation in the form of the said frame. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the said frame. Fig. 4 is a sec.- tion on the line :0 a; of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a per spective view in detail of the parts composing the construction of my improved form of frame. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the burr B.

As shown in Fi g. 5, a series of strips of wood or other analogous material are provided with a seriesof gains or mortises, and are arranged in an interlocking position, as shown, to form any desirable configuration. The bottom strips, A, are formed with either square or ornamental ends a, and provided with a series of gains or mortises, a, which are adapted to receive the main section B. The bottom strips, A, may be arranged in any manner desirable, parallel, oblique, transverse, or longitudinal, and of such length as to render them practicable for the use desired.

As shown in the accompanying drawings. the section B consists of a main vertical strip of wood, b, having mortises or gains therein,

and a series of transversely-arranged strips, 1), which are arranged at right angles to each other in connection with the said vertical strip 1), being interlocked or adjusted in the gains or inortises formed in each of the several parts. In the upper gain or mortise of the strip 1) is provided what I term a burr, B, which is of smaller configuration and dimensions than the remaining parts of the main sections, and consists of a series of short strips of wood, b which are arranged transversely on a line at right angles to each other, and, as shown, in a horizontal plane. hen these several parts shall have been thus arranged, a key, if, is passed down through one side of the burr B on the side opposite to the vertical strip b,and through one of the cross-sections b and down and resting against the sides of the bottom strips, A. By this means the'said parts are firmly united and interlocked, and this configuration, as shown in Fig. 4, is continued throughout the ornament being formed, the

parts of one main section B interlocking with the parts of another and adjacent section,and supporting a burr, B, on its upper end, and so on until the design of the article is complete.

As shown in Fig. 1, the frameis represented as standing out in relief from the picture, the two parts representing an intaglio construction. As also shown in Fig. 2, the configuration and design may be greatly varied by a pre determined change in the arrangement of the parts. The ends of the several sections may be formed of any preferred design or shape,

either square, conical, hexagonal, orany other geometrical form which will vary the design and appearance of the article formed by my improved construction.

This construction is especially applicable for the formation of rosettes for the interior decoration of rooms, center-pieces, or alcove-brackets, and is especially. applicable for use in connection with cornices, as will be readily understood.

I do not limit myself to the form of construction herein shown, as many variations therein may be made without departing from the nature and spirit of my invention.

The novelty and utility of myimproved de vice being obviously apparent, it is not necessary to further enlarge upon the same herein.

LJI

the vertical strip 1), the transversely-arranged strips b arranged in a horizontal plane at right angles to each other, the burr B, and the key I 5 6 substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEWVIS M. PRATT.

Witnesses:

O. H. CHENEY, JAMEs KELso. 

